<body><div>Sep 25, 2024 | 12:00 pm<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2xLKi9_0vjKN84500" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2xLKi9_0vjKN84500" width="980" height="527" ><figcaption>Imagine a nearly $0 energy bill. Photo courtesy of Whisper Valley</figcaption></figure>Promoted articles are produced by CultureMap sponsors and not by the editorial staff.Named Austin’s 2023 Master-Planned Community of the Year by the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin, Whisper Valley is a 2,063-acre community focused on sustainability, healthy living, technology, and affordability. Developed by Taurus Investment Holdings, this innovative community has created the blueprint for residential master-planned communities of the future.Located on rolling terrain in East Austin, Whisper Valley homes are extremely energy efficient, tech-savvy and served by Google Fiber and AT&amp;T 5G Fiber, offering future-proof homes that are zero energy-capable.Whisper Valley is powered by the innovative EcoSmart Solution, a green energy supply system that uses a GeoGrid to harness the renewable geothermal energy of the earth, reducing energy consumption by up to 70 percent. When paired with solar PV to generate electricity, this reduces monthly electric bills to almost nothing.In addition to a great lifestyle, homeowners living in Whisper Valley enjoy these unique benefits :<ul><li>Zero energy-capable homes lower monthly bills. Homeowners experience significantly reduced electric bills thanks to these cleaner energy sources. Savings can range from $1,250 to $3,000 a year in monthly electric bills.</li><li>30% tax credit on home’s geothermal and solar system, including the ground source heat pump (GSHP) and the solar panels, providing thousands of dollars in immediate savings in the first year of ownership.</li><li>Enhanced resilience. Protect your home from extreme weather events and lessen strain on the Texas energy grid.</li><li>Increased home value. EcoSmart adds value to your property with sustainable, future-proof technology.</li><li>Savings on equipment replacement costs. A geothermal heating and cooling system lasts 20-25 years, which is about double the life of a traditional HVAC system.</li><li>Protection against rising costs. Shield yourself from fluctuating energy prices and future-proof your investment.</li><li>Carbon emission reduction via demand reduction and on-site energy generation system by EcoSmart.</li><li>No noisy outdoor HVAC condensers. GSHPs are installed inside the home and make no noise, creating quiet and peaceful living. </li><li>Personal energy monitoring that informs homeowners about better energy behaviors that can help owners reduce their energy usage to zero and possibly generate utility bill credits</li><li>Homes are pre-wired for garage-mounted EV chargers.</li></ul>In addition, Whisper Valley offers a variety of outstanding builders and innovative home designs.New homes currently range from the high $200s to $600s with a wide range of lifestyles, from duplexes to single-family homes on homesites ranging in size from 35-foot, 40-foot, and 50-foot lots.Outstanding builders include Pacesetter Homes, GFO Home, Thurman Homes, AHA Dream Homes, and Terrata Homes. Two new builders are opening later this fall: Top national builder Richmond American Homes will be offering one and two-story homes from the low $400s, and innovative builder InstaBuilt Homes will offer two product lines ranging from the upper $200s to $400s.700-acres of parks and green spacesWhisper Valley features 700 acres of green space, parks, and amenities to suit anyone’s desire to exercise or just enjoy nature.The crown jewel of the community is the future Whisper Valley Park, a 600-acre public park located within the community. Whisper Valley Park will include nature trails and picnic areas, manicured open space, playgrounds, shade structures, community gardens, a natural amphitheater for events, and more.The park will also become the centerpiece of a new master trail plan that will ultimately connect the City of Austin’s 4,000-acre Walter E. Long Park &amp; Lake, the Travis County 14-mile trail system, and the East Metropolitan Park through Whisper Valley, offering an estimated 20 miles of trails.Professionally managed organic gardensWhisper Valley also has large organic gardens professionally managed by a community farmer that grows nutritious vegetables for residents on a first-come, first-served basis.Great amenitiesKnown as the Discovery Center, the community amenity center features a resort-style pool, fitness center, activity rooms, and a demonstration kitchen for community events, classes, and activities.Pocket parks and playgrounds are located throughout each neighborhood, connected by nature trails leading to a spacious dog park and Certified Wildlife Habitat.A fun lifestyleThe community’s lifestyle director plans and hosts dozens of fun activities for all ages every month, including a monthly artisan market, fitness classes including yoga, cooking demonstrations, kids’ activities, wine tastings, food truck dinners, holiday events and celebrations, and more.Come live the greater good lifeFor more information about Whisper Valley’s sustainable lifestyle and zero energy-capable homes, visit WhisperValleyAustin.com, call 512-720-7467, or plan a visit to the community Discovery Center, located at 9400 Petrichor Blvd., just off SH 130 and 973 in East Austin.First impressions<h2>How much Austin homeowners should budget for curb appeal this fall</h2>Sep 23, 2024 | 12:28 pmAustin's tremendous growth over the years has brought a boom in residential development. There are beautiful homes to be found throughout the area, and Austin homeowners are among the best in the country at maintaining their curb appeal — or at least the most committed.So says Thumbtack's 2024 list of the top 10 cities with the best curb appeal in the country, which ranks Austin No. 2 for the second consecutive year. The study was based on an analysis of curb appeal projects from August 2023 to August 2024, which was ranked by project frequency.Maintaining beauty doesn't come cheap. Thumbtack, a home services website, found that Austinites should budget nearly $3,600 for their autumn outdoor projects – such as gutter cleanings, sprinkler system winterization, tree trimming, lawn fertilizing, and more. The report also made suggestions for outdoor weatherization projects, which Austinites should heed now that Texas winters are less predictable due to climate change, they say."To protect your home from rain, cold, and snow, we recommend sealing your deck, caulking gaps, and insulating doors and windows," the report's author wrote. "These steps help keep warm air in and moisture out, ensuring your home’s exterior is ready for winter."Homeowners who want to make a big impression with their lawn next spring should start working on it this fall, they say. Projects like overseeding and aerating the yard, regular weeding, and pruning shrubs, trees, and perennials ahead of the winter months will help improve curb appeal for the next year, according to the report.But if a homeowner prefers the trendy look of a less manicured (yet still green) yard, we're not here to judge. Leaving more room for greenery in the backyard can make a home look more lush.What it all costsOf course, service costs are a major factor when determining how much to budget for these projects. The national average cost estimate for tree trimming can ring up at $718, while pressure washing or shrub trimming can easily cost over $300."Some projects like leaf cleanup and fertilizing can be DIYed, but others like gutter cleaning and tree trimming should be left to the pros to avoid costly, and dangerous mistakes," the report said. "Bundling home projects like aerating, fertilizing, weeding, and overseeding with a lawn care professional can also help you save money as you plan ahead."In 2023, Thumbtack estimated Austin homeowners would spend up to $15,627 for the year to boost their curb appeal on "medium-sized" home improvement projects like garage door or gutter replacements. For multiple large-scale projects – such as exterior repainting, property fence replacement, or sprinkler system installations – costs could add up to $25,000 in Austin. (No such annual figure was given in the new report.)The only city to outrank Austin with the best curb appeal in 2024 is Atlanta, Georgia, which claimed No. 1 for the second year in a row. Elsewhere in Texas, Dallas' curb appeal improved over the last year to land the city in the No. 4 spot.The top 10 cities with the best curb appeal are:<ul><li>No. 1 – Atlanta, Georgia</li><li>No. 2 – Austin, Texas</li><li>No. 3 – Charlotte, North Carolina</li><li>No. 4 – Dallas, Texas</li><li>No. 5 – Washington, D.C.</li><li>No. 6 – Denver, Colorado</li><li>No. 7 – Tampa, Florida </li><li>No. 8 – Orlando, Florida</li><li>No. 9 – Seattle, Washington</li><li>No. 10 – Raleigh, North Carolina</li></ul>The full report can be found on thumbtack.com.Featured Event<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2k7iYI_0vjKN84500" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2k7iYI_0vjKN84500" width="2000" height="1500" ></figure></div></body>

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The advantages of sustainable living in East Austin’s Whisper Valley

Promoted articles are produced by CultureMap sponsors and not by the editorial staff. Named Austin’s 2023 Master-Planned Community of the Year by the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin, Whisper Valley is a 2,063-acre community focused on sustainability, healthy living, technology, and affordability. Developed by Taurus Investment Holdings, this innovative community has created the blueprint for residential master-planned communities of the future.